Wheel-mounting.



W. H. COLDWELL.

WHEEL MOUNTING. APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 21. I916.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- W. H. COLDWELL.

WHEEL MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 19KB.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918,.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Whom rs ITED STATES PA TENT oFFroE.

WILLIAM H. COLDWELL, on NEWBURGH, Nnw YORK.

WHEEL-MOUNTING. I

original application filed June 15, 1 916, Serial N 0. 103,754. Dividedand 1916. Serial No. 121,367.

Wheel-Mountings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate oneembodiment of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration,and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following descriptionand claims. I

This application is a division of my former application for LettersPatent .of the United States filed June 15th, 1916, and given Serial#103,754, in which the subject-- matter of this application wasdisclosed and claimed, and my said invention is also illustrated anddescribed in my co pending application filed March 29th 1916, Serial No.87,444, though not specifically claimed therein.

My invention consists of an improved wheel mounting which is especiallydesirable for use in lawn mowing machines and the like. One of'the mostserious defects in the manufacture and use of lawn mowers is thetendency of the ground wheels, as soon as they wear their bearingsslightly, to wabble, which produces a great deal of noise in the use ofthe machine and makes the position of the cutters unsteady with respectto the grass. Machines are frequently thrown aside as worn out when thereal difliculty with them is that the ground wheel bearings are looseand worn and cannot be adjusted or tightened. By my invention this difliculty is overcome and the bearings for both wheels can be adjustedindependently so as to hold the wheel steady in relation to the frame ofthe machine and the driving parts leading to the rotary cutter andobviate the noise and vibration in the operation of the machine, and myinvention provides a construction by which the bearings can be adj ustedfrom time to time as may be necessary Specification of Letters Patent.

its inner face Patented Sept. 17, 1918. this application'filed September2 1,

20 maintain them always in proper condi- Referring to the drawingsaccompanying 66 and forming part of this specification? F lgure 1 is afront elevation of a lawn mower embodying my invention, the partsrelatlng, to my invention, at one side of the machine, being shown insection.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lawn mower drawn toanenlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of l l g. 2.' V i Fig. 4 is anenlarged sectional View of the wheel mounting.

In the lawn .mowerselected' by me for purposes of illustrating theinvention and shown in the accompanying drawings and also shown anddescribed in both' of my copending applications hereinbefore referredto, 202O represent parallel side'frames of a lawn mower, each of'whichis provided on with an enlarged friction hub, 21, in axial alinementtransversely of the machine and each of said side frames is providedwit-ha stub axle, 22, which is rigidly secured to one of the groundwheels, 23, which wheel's support the forward portions of the sideframes, and also serve to drive the rotary cutter. Each of said axles isprovided with a driving gear, 24,'for transmitting power to drive therotary cutter, and said frames are provided with suitable bearings forthe axle, for the shaft of the rotary cutter and for the intermediategearing, in any suitable manner.

I prefer to provide each side frame with an exterior gear casing, 25,forming part thereof-and secured rigidly thereto, but said side framesmay be formed in other ways. In the present instance, I have shown theside frames rigidly connected by tran verse tie-rods, 2627, which serveto hold the gear casings and side frames together, and

also to connect the two side frames. The, is preferably splined 'orengaging balls carried in cups, 30, which I term theouter bearingmembers and which are supported in recesses in the friction hub, 21, ofthe side frame, and a corresponding -th'e side frame or other supportfor the "portion of the gear case, and I provide a set screw, 31,extending, in this instance, through the end of the hub, 21, on theinside of the side frame and engaging a plate, 31*, in contact with theinner cup, 30, said inner cup being capable ofsli'ding in the hub in adirection longitudinally of the axle. It i will be seen that this oneset screw will accurately adjust the entirebearing forv each stub axleincluding both cones and both ends, and the set screw is preferablyprovic ed with a jam nut, 31", for looking it in adjusted position. v

It will be seen that this mounting holds the. stub axle rigidly in linewith respect to drawin s, the gear member is connected by intermec lategearing with the shaft, 32, of the rotary cutter, theend portions ofwhich are mounted in bearings and side frames and, in this specificembodiment mechanism is provided for disconnecting the gear member, 24from the rotary cutter. This mechanism, however, forms no part of thepresent invention andwill, therefore, not be particularly described norclaimed herein. I

It will be seen that the main frame and gear casing are provided withparallel portions which inclose entirely the gear 24 and form a gearcasing therefor whereby the bearing members, both interior and exterior,are completely inclosed and dust and foreign matter is prevented fromgetting into the same, while any lubricating material in the gear casingis prevented from escaping. As an additional precaution, I prefer toprovide the recessed portion through which the shaft 22 extends with athreaded cap indicated at,40, which closely fits the shaft and assistsin excluding the dust and.

preventing theexhaust of grease, oil or other lubricating materialcontained in the gear casing. 3

It will also be seen that the adjusting mechanism for the movableexterior bearing can be operated from the outside. of the gear casingwithout opening the gear casing or exposing any of the parts to dust.

members, a gear wheel is ,rigidly What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent. 1s

1. In a bearing, the combination with a supporting frame havingseparated parallel walls forming an inclosing casing, said walls havingoppositelydisposed bearing recesses, of said-recesses, a shaft extendingcentrally through said recesses and bearingmembers, inner bearingmembers carried by said shaft and cooperating located onsaid shaftbetween the bearing members and carried thereby, said gear "and all'thesaid bearing members lying within saidinclosing casing and its recesses,and a driving wheel secured to said shaft outside ofsaid gear casing.

2. In a bearing, the combination with a supporting frame havingseparated parallel walls' forming an lllOlOSlIlg easing, said wallshaving oppositely disposed bearing recesses, an outer bearing member ineach of said recesses, a shaft extending centrally through said recessesand bearing members,

inner bearing members carried by said shaft, and cooperating members, agear located on said shaft b'e-- tween the bearing members and carriedthereby, said gear and all'the said bearing members lying within saidinclosing casing and its recesses, and adjusting means .for one of theouter bearing members, having an operating portion extending outside ofthe gear casing.

3. In a bearing, supporting frame having parallel Walls forminganinclosing casing, and oppositely disposed bearing recesses, an outerbearing member in each of said recesses, a shaft extending centrallythroughsaid recesses and their bearing members, inner bearing memberscarried by said of said shafts and with between and in contact with saidinner bearing members, said gear and all of said bearing members lyingwithin said inclosing casing,

to said'shaft outside of said casing, and an adjusting device having anoperating part outside of, said casing and a part extending through thesame and into engagement with one of said outer bearing members, bothbearings formed by said bearing members, on oppositesides of said gear,will be simultaneously adjusted, and whereby said gear will be firmlyheld between the inner bearing members.

In testimony whereof affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. COLDWELL.

with the outer bearing with "the outer bearing the combination with a,

shaft, a gear on each secured to rotate therea driving wheel rigidlysecured whereby an outer bearing, member in each

